CEBU CITY – A policeman, who had gone absent without leave (AWOL) since 2016, was fatally shot after he and another man allegedly robbed a security guard in Barangay Tisa last Tuesday afternoon.
Police said no one saw who shot Jobie Antipolo, who had a rank of Police Officer 2.
Antipolo, was who last assigned in Sogod town, northern Cebu, was identified through the identification cards recovered from his possession.
Police Col. Gemma Vinluan, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said in a press briefing yesterday that there were four persons involved in the robbery.
One of the culprits, who served as a lookout, is already in the custody of the police for interrogation, said Vinluan.
Police said Antipolo and his unidentified cohort robbed Edwin Velos at gunpoint on Sapphire Street around 2:30 p.m.
Police said Velos drove a motorcycle carrying P300,000 payroll money. The money was kept in the U-box of the motorcycle.
Police Major Henrix Bancoleta, chief of the Labangon police station, said that according to witnesses, it appeared that the former policeman and his companion had been waiting for Velos to pass by Sapphire Street.
Bancoleta said the culprits immediately pounced on when they saw Velos.
Police said gunshots rang out and Velos was later found slumped on the ground.
As Antipolo and his companion were about to drive off aboard a motorcycle, someone fired shots and hit the policeman.
Antipolo’s companion scampered to escape using Velos’ motorcycle where the P300,000 cash was kept.
Antipolo died on the spot lying face-up on top of the motorcycle.
Velos, who was wounded in the body, was rushed to the hospital.
Velos of Sarsalejo Security Agency is the head security officer of Deca Homes, a subdivision located in Tisa.
Velos said the stolen money was for the salaries of 24 security officers.
Police said before he was robbed, Velos had delivered the salaries of other security guards amounting to P200,000. (Calvin Cordova)
